Akin Kuponiyi
TeeMac
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has ordered that all court processes filed in a suit instituted against, an agency of the Federal Government, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) by a music icon, Dr. Tee Mac Iseli Omatshola (MFR) be served on all the defendants.
Joined as co-defendants in the ensuing legal battle are Federal Ministry of Environment, an oil magnate Mr Peter Dunia, an environmentalist Mr Francis Amoma Monday JP, and a limited liability company Gbutse Property Limited.
The order of the court was sequel to an application filed and argued before the court on behalf of Dr.Tee Mac by a Lagos lawyer, Barrister Dada Awosika.
In an affidavit sworn to by Dr. Tee Mac, he averred that on 20 December, 2011, there was an oil spill at Bonga Oil Field which was under the control of Shell Nigerian Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) resulting in over 40,000 barrels of crude oil spilling into the marine environment, causing utter devastation to marine and human lives.
The spillage was caused by equipment failure resulting from snapped loading hoses under water.
The spill was alleged to have covered about 185 kilometers along the coast of Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, Brass, Warri Southwest and Burutu areas of Delta and Bayelsa states.
NOSDRA
In the wake of the spill, aquatic lives were destroyed as fishermen were compelled to desert the sea, with farmlands, vegetation and the environment contaminated.
Tee Mac averred further that on 22 December, 2011.Mr Peter Dunia called him that some of the community leaders affected by the spillage wanted him to represent their interest in a bid to follow due process in seeking redress for the devastation occasioned by the spillage.
He said accepted the request to represent the communities …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
